Cultivator.



F. E. DAVIS.

CULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11. 1908.

Patented May 11,1915.

{SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F. E. DAVIS.

CULTIVATOR. I APPLICATION FILED OCT. I7. 1908.

1,138,635. Patented May 11,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' F. E. DAVIS.

CULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11. 1908.

Patented May 11, 1915.

1' SHEETS-SHEET 3- FRANK E. av s, or LA cRossE, isconsin.

Specification of ietters Patent.

cnmrva'ron.

.l atented May 11, 19 15.

Application tiled Qcteberl'i, 189 8 eriel No common to adjust the carrying-wheelsrelatively to the frame, to balance the frame and so as to avoid undue pressure on the necks of the draft-animals. It has also been common to dirigibly connect th evwheels to the frame. It has also been common to conjointly adjust the carrying-wheels relatively to the frame and raise or lower the shovelbeams in a cultivator in which the wheels are not dirigibly connected to the frame.

" One object of the present invention is to provide mechanism whereby dirigible carrying-wheels may be adjusted relatively to the frame to balance the latter in operation and which is connected to the shovel-beams so that the dirigible carrying-wheels and'th shovel-beams may be conjointly adjusted to balance the frame on the dirigible carrying wheels when the shovels are operating at different depths, and when the shoVel beaIns are raised or lowered; this result being at, tained by providing a lever and connections between the hand-lever and the dirigiblewheels whereby the carrying-wheels will be adjusted relatively to the frame to balance the latter and to manipulate the shovelbeums from one of their alternative positions to the other and whichconnections permit the wheels to be turned to steer the machine without disturbing the assigned re lation of the balancing and raising or lowering-connections.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism for conjointly' adjusting the carrying-wheels to balance the frame and for raising or lowering the shovels and whereby the shovel-beams and shovels may be forcibly held in th e soil at different depths as may be desired according to the condition or nature of the soil er the depth at which the soil is t9 be cultivated. In Cultivators as heretofore constructed in which the adjustmentof the carrying-wheels to balance the machine and the raising and lowering o t e shovel-beams were conjenny, e ct d, ebeam were ne sar y suspended by flexible connections from the frame and it'was necessary for the operator to use his feet 'to force or hold the shQVl's into the ground, at least, in certain soils. As a of this feature of' the present invention, the operation of a singlelever will conjeintly adjust the carrying-wheels relatively to the frame and the shov'eLheams will be raised or-lowered and when lowered, pressure will be exerted thereupon by the hand-lever connection, so that the shovels will be forcibly held in the 'so il" as desired Withont further attention of the,- operator,

thu s leaving the operators feet free tosteer the machine. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved dirigible wheel mount which is simple in construction.

The invention further designs to provide a cultivator of improved construetion.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation or; cultivator embodying the invention; one of the carrying-wheels being re- .mov'ed. Fig. 2 is a plan; Fig. 3 is acen verse sectiontaken on line 1- -4 of Fig. 25 parts being shown in elevation.

The frame of cultivator comprise-:3: side-bars if), a cres's-pipe connecting the side-bars at the rear, and a front cross-bar tral longitudinal section. Fig. 4 is a trans- '12. A to'r'i gue 13 is secured to the front ends of side-bars 10 and frent cross-bar 1 .2. A seat-support at the rearl end of which is secured an operator-seat 5,"is suitably connected as at 16 to the side-bars of the frame. The frame is sustained by apair of earryin -wheels 16 one ateach side of the frame. An arch-axl comprising a secti on 21 for each wheel 16 connects the carrying-wheels to the frame: The connection between each carr in -wheel and the frame is so the wheels may be swung horizontally to. determine the course of l a travel of the machine. For this purpose the hub of each carrying-wheel is journaled on a laterally projecting stud 17 rigidly secured in a socket 18 which is formed at the lower end of avertical sleeve 19 which is rotatably connected to the vertical arm 20 of arch-axle section 21 which has a horizontal arm 22 extending into and journaled in the pipe-beam 11 of the frame. The lower end of the vertical arm20 of the arch-axle section is provided with a convex or pointed terminal 23 which rests on the wheel-stud or member 17 to form and the lower member or stud 17 of steeland by extending its lower end into engagement with the wheel-stud, a durable and sensitive dirigible connection is provided for each carrying-wheel. The vertical arm 20 of each uppe'r arch-axle member has extended therethrough a pin 35 disposed in a slot 36 in the sleeve wherein it is held, to limit the swing of the carrying-wheels, and

to hold the sleeve and vertical arm in connected relation. A dust-guard 37 is bolted to each sleeve 19to protect the hub of the carrying-wheel. An inwardly-extending arm 27 is secured to eachsleeve and has secured thereto a pedal 28 in. convenient position for the operators feet so that the angu lar disposition of the wheels may be readily controlled by the operator. At each end, pipe-beam 11 is connected to one of the sidebars 10 of the supporting-frame by a bracket 29 which is bolted to the side-bar and formed to receive the terminal of the pipe-beam. An adjustable collar 30 on the horizontal arm of each upper member of each arch-axle section is held against longitudinal movement in groove 31 in the bracket 29 to secure the arch-axle section against longitudinal movement in the pipebeam 11 while permitting it to oscillate therein for the purpose of relatively adjusting the carrying-wheel with respect to the frame to balance the latter on the wheels. By pivotally connecting each arch-axle section to the cultivator frame in this manner the wheels are rendered longitudinally adjustable with respect to the frame to balance the frame. The arch-axle sections may also be adjustable laterally so that the carrying-wheels may be set to travel different distancesapart andbetween rows or in furrows differently spaced. Lateral adjustment of the wheels may be effected by loosening the collars 30 and shifting the horizontal arms 22 inwardly or outwardly. The carrying-wheels are cross-connected to be conjointly swung, by a connecting-bar 33 securedrespectively to the ends of arm 3% one of which is secured to each of the axle sleeves 19. This bar is provided with a number of perforations 33 either of which is adapted to receive a pivot-bolt 33 so that as the arch-axles are adjusted inwardly or outwardly, connections between arms and the cross-bar may be correspondingly adjusted to maintain the carrying-wheels in parallel relation. Resultantly, when either of the treadles 29 is operated both of the carrying-wheels will respond thereto to determine the course of travel of the cultivator.

Means for adjusting the arch-axle-sections to balance the frame thereon comprises a hand-lever 40 which is pivotally sustained as at 41 in a rack l2 which is rigidly secured as at 43 to one of the side-bars 10 of the supporting-frame. Lever 40 is provided with a lock 44 controlled by a linger-lever t5 whereby the lever may be locked in different positions to the rack 42. This handlever 10 is connected to conjointly adjust both of the carrying-wheels longitudinally to balance the frame. A cross-shaft 4-7 is journaled in brackets 48 secured to the side-oars 10 of the frame and has rigidly secured to each end, an arm or lever 4-9. Handlever t0 is connected to rock shaft l? by a rod or link 50 which is pivotally connected to the lower end of the hand-lever and to one of the levers -19. a rod 51 to an eye 52 formed on the lower en of the arch-axle sleeves 19, respectively. sai links being pivotally connected to said eyes by an eye 51" and to the lower end of arm 49 by an eye 51. These eye-connections between rod 51 and the lower arch-axle members are disposed to form pivotal connections between said rods and the archaxle sleeves, which are concentric or in line with the vertical axis of the sleeve about which they swing horizontally. Resultantly, when the carrying-wheels and sleeves are shifted to vary the direction of travel of the Each lever 49 is connected by .1

laterally without'infiuencing them to move to either one side or the other.

Shovel-beams or drag-bars 54 are each pivotally connected at their front and upper ends to the cross-shaft 17 by a swivel-coupling 56 of usual construction, so that the drag-bars are free to swing vertically to raise or lower the shovels carried thereby and to swing laterally. Each swivel-coupling 56 is pivotally mounted on the crossrod 17 to permit the beam to be be raised or lowered, and each standard 54 at the front end of: each shovel-beam is pivotally mounted in the coupling 56 to permit the shovel-beams to be swung laterally as desired. Mechanism is provided for raising or lowering the shovel-beams and this mecln anism is operatively connected to the handlever %0 so that said lever will conjointly adjust the carrying-wheels to balance the frame and accordingly raise or lower the shovel-beams so that the frame will be main tained at all times in balanced relation on tion ofthe shovelbeams. In practice it has been found that the deeper the shovels are operating in the soil, the greater the tendency of the tongue to strain the horses necks and therefore it is desirable to shift the carrying-Wheels, with respect to the frame, in degree corresponding to the depth of the shovels in the soil. In order to maintain the desired relative adjustment of the balancing-means and the raising and loweringconnections according to difierent characters of soil and to permit each of the raising and lowering connections to be adjusted inde endently of one another when desired, an adjustable hand-lever (53 is interposed in each raising and lowering connection between the cross-shaft l? and the shovelbeams. Each lever -10 on the cross shaft -17 is provided with an upwardly extending arm 58 which is connected by a rod'or link 59 to an arm 60 on a rack 61 which is.pi\ot ally connected as at 62 to the supportingframe. Handdever 63 is pivoted concentrically with the rack 61 and is provided with .a finger-lever controlled lock (54 adapted to engage the notches in said rack and to lock the lever and the connection controlled thereby. Each hand-lever (33 is extended below its pivot as at ($5 and is connected to one of the shovel-beams by a rod (36 having its upper end pivoted to said leverarm 65 and its lower end slidably held in a bracket 67 secured to the shovel-beam. A pin (38, is adapted to eXtend tln-ough either of a series of holes 39 in the lower end of rod 66 and to engage bracket 67 on the shovel-beam to cause the shovel-beam to be positively lifted by rod 66 when the lifting-connection is operated.

In some soils it is necessary or desirable,

in order to insure the travel of the shovels at the proper depth, to forcibly hold the shovels therein and for this purpose .a yieldable pressure-device comprising a spring 70 is applied to force the shovel-beam downwardly to hold the shovels thereon. in the soil at the desired depth. This spring is interposed between an adjustable collar 71 on rod ('16 and the bracket 67 on the shovelbeam. Resultantly, whenever independent adjustment of, or variation of pressure upon one ot the beams is desired, hand-lever 63 may be unlocked from rack (31, which is operated by the hand-lever 40, which conjointly operates both of the shovel-beams and the carryingwheels to balance the frame. By this adjustment of hand-lever 63 the beams may be adjusted independently of the conjoint lifting and balancing-mechanism and the pressure upon the shovelbeams may be varied to cause the shovels thereon to be yieldingly held in the ground at the desired depth. If it is desired to nonyieldingly hold the shovels in the soil, the' rod 66 may be connected to operate the shovel-beams positively in both directions by extending a pin 68 through the rod above a bracket (57, as shown in Fig. 1. The invention thus provides a cultivator in which shovel-beams are conjointly raised and lowered or in which the frame is balanced and the beams are raised or lowered conjointly therewith and in which the shovels may be forcibly held in the soil at different depths, and as the shovels are forced into the, ground the balancing-connections will be operated to overcome additional pull on the necks of the draft-animals.

At times it is desirable to employ a swaybar for causing both of the shovel-beams to move together laterally, and for this purpose a pair of angular levers 73 are pivotally connected as at H to the cross-bar 33 which connects the carrying-wheels. A bracket 75 is secured'to cross-bar 33 and a hand-lever 7G is pivoted insaid bracket. A lock 77 is provided for engaging the teeth of a rack 78 on bracket 75 and said lever is connected to the angular levers 73 by a link 75) which is pivoted to the hand-lever and to both of the angular levers by a stud-and-slot connection S0. The lower end of each lcverTS extends into a slot 73' on one of the beams so that the beams will be free to rise and tall independently of the lever, but will be controlled laterally by the lever. By adjustment of lever 76 about its pivot, levers 73 will be swung about their respective pivots to cause the shovel-beams to be held the desired distance apart and lock 77 and rack 78 serve to hold hand-lever 76 and levers 7 3 in assigned relation.

The operation of the improved cultivator will be as follows: The operator insthe seat KID may at all times control the course and direction of travel of the carrying-wheels by shifting one of the treadles 28 backwardly or forwardly according to the direction desired, each of the carrying-wheels being dirigibly connected to the frame by an arch-axle section and connected to the other wheel ror conjoint swinging movement, by cross-bar To raise or lower the shovelbeams, the operator will unlock hand-lever 4-0 and shift it, which will cause rod to shift cross-shaft all. Such shift of said. shaft will cause both of the arms l9 to operate rods 51 and swing the arch-axle sections and their sleeves 19 forwardly or backwardly to balance the frame on the carryingavheels. Such shift of said shaft ll? will also effect raising'or lowering of the shovel-beams by means of rods 59, racks 61, levers 65, rods 66 and the pressuresprings 70. Rcsultantly, the hand-lever a0 con]ointly operates the frame balancing-means and the means for raising or lowering thc'shovel-beams. WVhcn it is desired to raise one of the shovel-beams independently of the other, it may be done by releasing lock 6i. from rack 61 so that the hand-lever (53 will be free to operate the shovel-imam to' which it is connected, independently of the balancing-means and the other shovel-beam. If it is desired to vary the pressure applied to either of the beams by its pressurcdevice, such variation may be effected by adjustment of the hand-lever 63 on rack 61. So also the relative position o the carrying-wheels with respect to the name and the relative position of the shovelbeam may be varied, so that under different conditions of he soil the frame will be propcrl balanced while thoshovclrbeains will be held the shovels thereon will travel in the soil: he desired depth. This adjustment is pi cularly desirable when prcssure-dcvices are employed for holding the shovels in the soil at diifere t depths so that the relative position of the carrying-wheels with respect to the\ frame will he n'iaintaiucd to prop .ly balance the frame to prevent the front end of the tongue from straining the necks, as variation of the pressure- :es will frequently render '-;ai'iation of balancing-Inca necessary to maintain relation and prevent .ircd balanc d gue from straining the horses necks. invention thus provides an improved 7 :tnrc in'whieh the balancing-means for the frame and tie shovel-beams are conjointly operated and which are capable of operation with pressure-devices for holding the shovels-kin the soil at different depths. The invention further provides an improved structure in which the balancing-means and the raising and lowering-means for the beams are conjointly operated and in which the wheels are dirigibly connected to the frame so that they will be free at all times to be turned to determine the course of travel of the machine, while the different mechanisms are in different positions.

It will be observed that the hand-lever 40 for conj ointly controlling the balancing-connections and the shovel-beams, is pivoted at the rear of the frame, while the cross-shaft 4:7 is disposed at the front of the frame and is connected to said lever by a rod 50. When these are thus disposed the lever is arranged in convenient position for operation by the operator and the throw of the lever is from substantially a vertical to a point near the horizontal. This arrangement renders the lever easy of operation in use.

The invention is not to'be understood as restricted to the details illustrated and de: scribed since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a riding-cultivator, the combination of a frame, carrying-wheels each dirigibly connected to the frame, means for steering the wheels, shovel-beams, raising and lowering connections for the beams, said beams be ing pivoted to swing vertically independently of the wheels, balancing-connections between the dirigible wheels and the frame, and means for conjointly shiftin the balancing-connection to balance the frame and the beam connections to raise or lower the beams. i

2. In a riding-cultivator, the combination of a frame, carrying-wheels, each pivotally connected to the frame to swing laterally and longitudinally, means for steering the wheels, shovel-beams pivotally sustained by the frame independently of the wheels, and a lever connected to said wheels to shift them longitudinally and to said beams to raise or lower them.

3. In a riding-cultivator, the combination of a frame, carrying-wheels each dirigibly connected to the frame, means for steering the wheels, shovel-beams, a balancing-connection between the zlirigible wheels and the frame, and means connected to thebalancingconnection and to the beams to raise or lower them, said connecting-means comprising a hand-lever for each beam for securing the lovers in different positions on the rack.

4. In a riding-cultivator, the combination of. a frame, carrying-wheels, each pivotally connected to the frame to swing laterally and longitudinally, means for steering the wheels, shovel-beams, a lever, connections between said lever and said wheels for shifting them to balance the frame,and a connection between said lever and the beams for raising to sw ng longitnd orlowerln'g them, the connection for shiftin'gthe wheels to balance the frame comprising'af connection with the wheel which is con centric with the pivot about which the wheel swings laterally, the connection between the f lever and the shovel-beams comprisingfa lever for adjusting the shovelbea-ms independ- "ently of the connection.

arch axle. sections to balance the frame, comprgrsmg rods pivotally connected to the archaale below the s indles and substantially concentric with t e axes about which the spindles swing laterally. I

In a riding cultivator, the combination I of a frame, an arch-axle pivoted to the'frame to swing longitudinally, comprising spindles, carrying-Wheels mounted on said spindles, pivotal connections between the axle and the spindles which permit the wheels to swing later-ally, and means for conjointly shifting the arch-axle to balance the frame and to raise or lower the beams said means "comprising rods connected to the arch-axle sections at a point below the spindles and substantially alined with the axes about which the spindles swing laterally.

7. In a dirigible cultivatonthe combination of a frame, carrying wheels therefor, an arch=aXle comprising a vertically extending member and a sleeve around said member, the vertically extending member being pivoted to the frame to swing longitudinally, a spindle in said sleevefor one of the wheels, said vertically extending member restingiin pivotal contact on the spindle, means for swinging the sleeve horizontally. around the vertically extending member and a device between the sleeve and the vertically extending member for holding them together.

:8.'In a dirigilo'le cultivator, the combina-' tion of a frame, carrying-wheels therefor,

an archaxle comprising upper and lower members, said upper member being pivoted to the frame to balance the frame and compr sing a vertically disposed arm, and a 'lower'horizontal member forming a spindle for the wheel, said upper member resting in pivotal contact on the. lower' member, connectlng-means between said members, and

means for swinging the lower member horizontally about :the pivotal connection be- ;tween the -members.

9. In a dirigible cultivator, the combination of a frame, carrying-wheels therefor, an arch-axle comprising upper and lower members, said upper member being pivoted to the frame to balance the frame and comprising a vertically disposed arm, the lower horizontal member forming a spindle for the wheel, said upper member resting in pivotal co'ntact'on the lower member, a sleeve secured to one of said members and in which to the upper member and on which one of the wheels is mounted to swing horizontally, means for swinging the lower member horizontally to steer the wheel, and means for shifting the wheel longitudinally comprising a link pivotally connected to the axle at a point below the lower member and substantially concentric with the point about which the wheel swings horizontally.

11. In a dirigible cultivator, the combination of a frame, carrying-wheels therefor, an arclr aXle pivotally connected to the frame to swing longitudinally to balance the frame and comprising a vertically extending member and a lower member pivotally connected to the up er member and on which one of the whee s is mounted to swing horizontally, means for swinging the lower member horizontally to steer the wheel, means for shifting the .wheel longitudinally-comprising a link pivotally connected to the axle at a point below the lower member and substantially concentric with the point about which the wheel swings horizontally, and an arm to which the front end .of, the link is connected. t 12. Ina dirigible cultivator, the combination of a frame, carrying-wheels therefor, an arch-axle. pivotally connected 'to the frame to swing longitudinally to balance the frame and comprising a vertically eXtending member and a lower member pivotally connected to the upper member and on which one of the wheels is mounted to swing hor1-' zontally, means for swinging the lower member horizontally to steer the wheel, and means for shifting the wheel longitudinally comprising a link pivotally connectedto the axle beneath the lower.laterally sw1ng1ng member at a point substantiallyconcentrlc with the point about which the wheel swings horizontally.

13. In a dirigible cultivator, the combination of a frame, cari'ying\vheels therefor, an arch-axle pivotally connected to the frame to swing longitudinally to balance the frame and comprising a vertically extending memlife her and a lower memberpivotally connected iii the Wheels is mounted to swing horizontally, means for swinging the lower member horizontelly to steer the wheel, means for shifting the wheel longitudinally comprising a link pivotelly connected to the axle at a, point substantially concentric with the point about which the'wheel swings horizontally,

and a pivotal eye-connection between the link and the lower axle-member and beneath the lower member.

' v FRANK E. DAVIS. Witnesses:

C. W. DICKINSON,

W. P. ROELLIG. 

